This past fall the cross country boys team were runners up at state, resulting in Brent Smitheran winning coach of the year for boys and the high school getting more recognition for its running program. As a result, the track team has been invited to, and entered itself, in meets where the stakes are high and plenty of competition. 

“It’s a little more stressful, there’s more pressure on you, and people from bigger schools are usually a lot faster. It’s just a little more stressful,” Ava Best, 10, said. 

Some of those meets include the Leitel Legacy Invite (hosted by Freestate), KU Relays (hosting both college races and highschool races), De Soto Invitational, and a select few going to arguably the fastest high school meet in Kansas: Shawnee Mission North Relays. These events host mostly 5A and 6A schools. 

“It’s really good. I think we should go to more big meets instead of coming to these little 3A meets,” Jack Janovick, 11, said. 

Of course, continuing to dominate meets will not always be an option when put up against other athletic powerhouses.

“I would get second or first place in a small meet, but if I went to a big meet I’d get like twentieth,” Zachary Anderson, 10, said. 

Sprinters naturally face a larger field at any meet, and running at the same time does not always mean the same place. 

“I definitely place lower at bigger meets, but [when] running the same times, I would’ve placed good at a normal meet,” Best said. 

Nevertheless, track and field is ultimately about beating your own times and goals.

“Well, obviously I’m gonna place worse because there’s more good people, but I think it’s good because you run faster and that’s what really matters,” Janovick said. 

Even with better opponents, athletes are not scared to put in the effort and word hard. 

“Give me more competition! I’m the top dawg!” Anderson said. 

Overall, the team hopes to continue running more competitively in future years.